The Low Carbon Economy Ltd

Renewable projects approved in Scotland

The Scottish government has approved ten projects to harness wave and tidal energy off the northern coast of the country.

First minister Alex Salmond said that the initiatives, which range from 50MW to 200MW, mark a "major milestone" in Scotland's low carbon transition.

It is thought that up to 1.2GW of energy will be generated from the ten programmes, of which six are wave-based and four are tidal schemes.

Electricity created through these projects will have the potential to power as many as 70,000 homes in the country.

"Leading international energy companies and innovators continue to be drawn to Scottish waters, which boast as much as a quarter of Europe's tidal and offshore wind resource and a tenth of the continent's potential wave capacity," Mr Salmond added.

"Together with some 11GW of planned offshore wind developments, these latest marine renewables projects show that Scotland is powering ahead in the development and deployment of clean, green energy."